The shootings have allegedly sowed panic among Isil’s forces in the city, who are reported to have carried out numerous arrests and executions in an attempt to find the culprit.

The most recent victim – according to social media reports from Sirte – was Abdullah Hamad Al-Ansari, an ISIL commander who was shot dead on January 23 as he left a mosque.

Sirte has been under Islamic State control since last summer, and intelligence officials estimate there may be up to 2,000 jihadist fighters now based there.

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According to the Telegraph, very few of the city’s inhabitants actively support their new hardline rulers and the locals are reported to be relishing the panic the shootings are causing among ISIL’s members.

One eye witness told the al-Wasat website:

A state of terror prevailed among the ISIL ranks after his death. They randomly shot in the air to scare inhabitants, while searching for the sniper.

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The identity of the mystery marksman is being hotly debated online with many believing he is a rogue militiaman from the neighbouring city of Misrata.

Others believe the sniper may be a U.S special forces soldier, some of whom are thought to be operating in the region to gather intelligence on ISIL.